Moral equivalence theory in neonatology
Title
Moral equivalence theory in neonatology
Creator
Lin M; Vitcov GG; Cummings CL
Identifier
Publisher
Seminars in Perinatology
Date
2022
Subject
Humans; Decision Making; Infant, Newborn; Withholding Treatment; Morals; Neonatology
Description
This article explores the ethical concept of "the equivalence thesis" (ET), or the idea that withdrawing and withholding life sustaining treatments are morally equivalent practices, within neonatology. We review the historical origins, theory, and clinical rationale behind ET, and provide an analysis of how ET relates to literature that describes neonatal mode of death and healthcare professional and parent attitudes towards end-of-life care. While ET may serve as an ethical tool to optimize resource allocation in theory, its clinical utility is limited given the complexity of end-of-life care decisions.
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Citation List Month
August 2022 List
URL Address
Collection
Citation
Lin M; Vitcov GG; Cummings CL, “Moral equivalence theory in neonatology,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed April 25, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/18180.